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hostess copycat cream cheese danish

hostess copycat cream cheese danish

Recreate the deliciousness of a Hostess cream cheese Danish at home with this simple copycat recipe. Featuring a buttery, flaky pastry, smooth cream cheese filling, and a drizzle of glaze, this homemade Danish is a perfect breakfast or snack. Enjoy the bakery-quality results with minimal effort!
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Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 28 minutes
Servings: 8 danishes
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • For the pastry: 500g all-purpose flour
  • 14g instant yeast
  • 315ml hot water (around 120°F/49°C)
  • 1 large egg (approximately 50g)
  • 5g salt
  • 2.5ml almond extract
  • 50g granulated sugar
  • 225g cold salted butter, cut into small cubes
For the cream cheese filling:
  • 450g cream cheese, softened
  • 200g granulated sugar
  • 2.5ml almond extract
  • For the egg wash: 1 large egg, beaten
  • For the glaze: 140g powdered sugar
  • 30ml water
  • 2.5ml vanilla extract

Method
 

  1. In a large bowl, mix flour, yeast, hot water, egg, salt, almond extract, and sugar until a dough forms.
  2. Knead the dough for about 5 minutes until smooth. Cover and let rise for 1 hour.
  3. Roll out the dough into a large rectangle. Spread the cold butter cubes over 2/3 of the dough.
  4. Fold the unbuttered third over the center, then fold the other side over. Roll out and repeat this folding process twice more. Chill for 30 minutes between each fold.
  5. For the filling, mix cream cheese, sugar, and almond extract until smooth.
  6. Roll out the chilled dough and cut into 8 squares. Place a dollop of cream cheese filling in the center of each square.
  7. Fold the corners of each square towards the center, leaving a small space in the middle.
  8. Brush with beaten egg and let rise for 30 minutes.
  9. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Bake for 15-17 minutes until golden brown.
  10. Mix powdered sugar, water, and vanilla for the glaze. Drizzle over cooled danishes.

Notes

Here are some delicious variations for the Hostess Cream Cheese Danish recipe:
  1. Berry Medley Danish: Replace the strawberry jam with a mixed berry jam or use a combination of fresh berries like raspberries, blueberries, and blackberries.
  2. Peach Cream Cheese Danish: Substitute the strawberry jam with peach preserves or use fresh, thinly sliced peaches.
  3. Apple Cinnamon Danish: Use apple butter or cooked cinnamon apples instead of strawberry jam. Add a sprinkle of cinnamon to the cream cheese mixture.
  4. Chocolate Hazelnut Danish: Spread Nutella instead of jam and add chopped hazelnuts on top before baking.
  5. Lemon Blueberry Danish: Mix lemon zest into the cream cheese filling and use blueberry jam or fresh blueberries.
  6. Almond Cherry Danish: Use cherry preserves and add almond extract to the cream cheese mixture. Sprinkle sliced almonds on top before baking.
  7. Savory Spinach and Feta Danish: For a savory twist, omit the sugar and jam. Mix crumbled feta and cooked, drained spinach into the cream cheese.
  8. Pumpkin Spice Danish: Mix canned pumpkin puree and pumpkin pie spice into the cream cheese filling for a fall-inspired treat.
  9. Tropical Mango Danish: Use mango preserves or fresh mango chunks and add shredded coconut to the cream cheese mixture.
  10. Maple Bacon Danish: For a sweet and savory option, use maple syrup instead of jam and sprinkle crispy bacon bits on top before baking.
Remember to adjust baking times and temperatures as needed when changing ingredients. These variations allow you to customize the danish to your preferences or seasonal ingredients.